Times Two Training

Pupil Power

Making the Student Voice heard through effective school councils

A one day course on how to achieve meaningful child participation by running a successful school or college council.

Previous praise for this course:

• Thank you for an inspiring day! I feel I’ve got lots of ideas to implement very soon, as well as the tools to develop the school council in the long term.
• Good pace; found the course extremely relevant. A very enjoyable and rewarding day overall.
• Well planned, thought provoking day.

Course outcomes:

Through stimulating and interactive sessions, this well-established course will engage participants with some of the recent factors which have made a big impact on schools. Factors such as the UN Convention on Rights of the Child, the Education Act 2002, OFSTED’s New Relationship with Schools, and Every Child Matters all have a common theme in stating the importance of giving children a voice in their own education.
Participants will consider objectively the effectiveness of the student voice and school council within their own institution, and be given examples of the best practice in school councils.
Effective school council meetings will be explored, with a focus on the roles and responsibilities within the council. Delegates will produce a School Council Action Plan for implementation back in school.

Outline course programme:

09.15 Registration. Tea and coffee will be available.
09.45 Welcome. Why Pupil Power? Relevant issues.
10.30 Team building activity. Discussion in groups of how Pupil Power can be effective.
11.15 Break and refreshments.
11.30 Review first session, feedback.
11.45 How can a School Council be effective? Models of good practice.
12.30 Lunch.
13.20 Running a School Council Meeting. Reminder of roles and responsibilities.
15.00 Sharing ideas. Planning for a School Council Action Plan.
15.20 Plenary and questions.

16.00 Depart.

About the course leader:

Barbara A Mawtus has over ten years’ experience in school councils. She has led the delivery and organisation of school council conferences in both primary and secondary education in conjunction with the National Healthy Schools Standard. She has delivered training at LEA level and has acted as a consultant for schools setting up school councils. She has already delivered “Pupil Power” to many delegates from the North East to the South West and their praise is unanimous. Barbara currently works at a large community college where as well as being a Head of Year, she runs the College Council and has responsibility for Parent/Student Communication.